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Low blood pressure treatments & medications

Treatment for hypotension varies based on the cause and associated symptoms
Karen Berger medical writer and reviewer headshot
By | Mar. 26, 2025
Blood pressure cuff and heart stress ball: Low blood pressure treatments & medications

Key takeaways

  • Hypotension is when blood pressure drops below 90/60 mm Hg, reducing blood flow to organs like the heart and brain. This can cause symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, fainting, and blurry vision.

  • Low blood pressure can result from dehydration, medications, heart conditions, or neurological issues.

  • Management depends on the cause and symptoms. It may include lifestyle changes, such as increased fluid and salt intake, compression socks, and slow standing, or medications like fludrocortisone, midodrine, or droxidopa.

  • Immediate medical attention is needed for symptoms like fainting, chest pain, confusion, severe dizziness, or cold, clammy skin. Shock from low blood pressure requires urgent hospital treatment.

In this article:

Living with dizziness, lightheadedness, and weakness can be difficult and frustrating. These are common symptoms of low blood pressure, also known as hypotension. Understanding low blood pressure and how to treat it at home and with medications are great first steps in managing your condition. Continue reading to learn more about low blood pressure. 

What is low blood pressure?

Before we define low blood pressure, let’s learn a little about blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart is pumping blood. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers, systolic and diastolic (systolic is the top number, and diastolic is the bottom number). The numbers are recorded as mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). A normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg. 

While high blood pressure is known as hypertension, low blood pressure is known as hypotension. Hypotension is when blood pressure is much lower than normal. With low blood pressure, not enough blood gets to the heart, brain, and other parts of the body. Blood pressure is considered low when it is less than 90/60 mm Hg. 

People with low blood pressure may experience it all the time, while others have sudden drops or low blood pressure related to a medical condition. Low blood pressure means that the heart, brain, and other organs are not getting enough blood flow, which increases the risk of heart attack or stroke. 

Low blood pressure symptoms may include:

  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
  • Fainting 
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Blurry vision
  • Fast and shallow breathing
  • Weakness 
  • Feeling tired and sluggish
  • Confusion
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Agitation or other behavior changes

Treatment depends on the symptoms (some people have no symptoms) and what is causing the low blood pressure. It may include lifestyle changes and medications that increase blood pressure. 

How is low blood pressure diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will take your blood pressure, often more than once, to diagnose low blood pressure. They will also check other vital signs like your temperature, pulse, and respiration rate. However, they will also want to determine what is causing low blood pressure so they may order more tests, such as:

  • Lab tests (blood and urine) to look for other conditions such as diabetes, thyroid conditions, anemia, pregnancy, or vitamin deficiencies
  • Imaging, such as X-rays, MRI, CT scans, or an echocardiogram to check the heart and lungs
  • Other tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), stress test, or tilt table test 

Some questions your healthcare provider may ask include:

  • Do you know your usual blood pressure?
  • What medicines do you take (including prescription and OTC drugs, vitamins, and supplements)?
  • Are you drinking and eating normally?
  • Have you been in an accident recently or had an injury or illness?
  • What are your symptoms?
  • Have you ever fainted?
  • Do you feel dizzy when standing after lying down?

Depending on the severity of low blood pressure, you may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. 

Types and causes of low blood pressure

There are various types of low blood pressure, as well as causes. 

  • Severe hypotension, or shock, can be caused by sudden blood loss, severe infection, heart attack, or severe allergic reaction. It is a medical emergency usually treated with blood or IV fluids, medications to increase blood pressure and improve heart strength (such as epinephrine), and antibiotics. 
  • Orthostatic hypotension (postural hypotension) is a drop in blood pressure when standing up from a lying down position. It usually only lasts several seconds or minutes. Postprandial orthostatic hypotension is orthostatic hypotension that occurs after eating. It mostly affects older adults, people with high blood pressure, and people with Parkinson’s disease. 
  • Neurally mediated hypotension (NMH) may occur after standing for a long time. This type of low blood pressure usually affects children and young adults, but children usually outgrow this condition. 

Substances that can cause low blood pressure include alcohol, anti-anxiety medications, water pills (diuretics), pain medications, certain antidepressants, and medications that treat high blood pressure and heart disease. 

Low blood pressure can also be caused by arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), dehydration, heart failure, or nerve damage from diabetes. 

Low blood pressure treatment options

If you are diagnosed with low blood pressure, you’ll want to know more about treatment options. Treatment will vary, depending on symptoms and the cause of your low blood pressure. For example, if a certain medication is causing low blood pressure, the healthcare provider may change the dose or recommend a different medication that may not cause low blood pressure. 

Lifestyle changes, such as adding salt to the diet, drinking more water, and wearing compression stockings, may help, as well as prescription medications like fludrocortisone or midodrine. 

Low blood pressure medications

Commonly prescribed medications for low blood pressure include:

Corticosteroids

Fludrocortisone is an oral corticosteroid that is used off-label (a use that’s not FDA-approved) to treat orthostatic hypotension in adults. It works by increasing the body’s salt and water retention. 

Corticosteroids can have many side effects, especially with long-term use. Some common side effects include hair growth, weight gain, swelling, stomach discomfort, mood swings, nausea, vomiting, and others. Serious side effects are possible, too, and with long-term use, the risk of health problems like osteoporosis, glaucoma, diabetes, and others increases.

Alpha-adrenergic agonist/pressor

ProAmatine (midodrine) is an alpha-adrenergic agonist known as a pressor. It works by narrowing the blood vessels and increasing blood pressure. It can treat orthostatic hypotension (in adults), which causes symptoms and affects daily life. 

Common side effects may include numbness and tingling, goosebumps, discomfort when urinating, itching, rash, chills, pain, and high blood pressure while lying down (called supine hypertension; this can be serious). Serious side effects may include a very slow heart rate, vision problems, and skin reactions with red, bullseye-shaped lesions. 

Another pressor is called droxidopa. It can treat neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure upon standing due to an underlying neurological condition) in adults. Common side effects include headache, nausea, dizziness, and high blood pressure.

What is the best medication for low blood pressure?

The best medication for low blood pressure depends on several factors, including the underlying cause of low blood pressure, symptoms, other health conditions, medical history, and other variables. This table contains a list of commonly prescribed medications for low blood pressure. You can always use a free SingleCare card to save up to 80% off the cost of your medications and refills, too. 

Drug Name Drug Class Administration Route Standard Adult Dosage Common Side Effects
Fludrocortisone Corticosteroids Oral 0.1 to 0.2 mg by mouth once daily Stomach pain, weight gain, mood changes, swelling
ProAmatine (midodrine) Pressors/alpha-adrenergic agonists Oral  10 mg by mouth 3 times daily Numbness and tingling, goosebumps, chills, discomfort while urinating
Northera (droxidopa) Pressors Oral  100 to 600 mg by mouth 3 times daily Headache, nausea, dizziness, high blood pressure

Your doctor determines dosage based on your symptoms, medical conditions, and other factors. Other possible side effects exist. This is not a complete list.

What is the best home remedy for low blood pressure?

In addition to taking prescribed medication, some lifestyle changes can help with low blood pressure or help prevent episodes from recurring.

  • Diet: Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations regarding diet, especially around salt intake. Eat small meals, and avoid heavy meals that are high in carbohydrates. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, but avoid alcohol.
  • Wear compression socks: These socks put light pressure on the legs and feet, pushing blood upward and raising blood pressure. An abdominal binder may also help regulate blood pressure. Ask your healthcare provider for recommendations.
  • Don’t sleep flat: Elevate your head with pillows or by tilting the mattress on your bed. 
  • Stand up slowly: Avoid standing up too quickly, especially if you have orthostatic hypotension. Hold on to something sturdy when standing up.
  • Avoid hot showers and baths: Hot showers and baths can lower your blood pressure, so avoid showering or bathing in very hot water.
  • Sit down when you feel dizzy: Falling from a standing position can put you at risk for injuries, so if you start to feel dizzy or lightheaded, sit down right away. 

Living with low blood pressure

Regardless of the cause of your low blood pressure, it is important to know and monitor your baseline blood pressure at home—your healthcare provider will tell you how often to check it. To stay healthy and avoid falls and injuries, follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations for lifestyle changes and medication—and keep your doctor’s appointments. 

Frequently asked questions about low blood pressure

What should you eat to help raise low blood pressure?

Your healthcare provider will recommend dietary changes if needed. Consider consulting a registered dietitian for nutritional advice. Generally, to avoid low blood pressure, it’s important to stay hydrated (and avoid alcohol), follow salt intake recommendations, and avoid heavy, high-carbohydrate meals. 

Can low blood pressure be treated at home? 

Severe low blood pressure (shock) due to sudden blood loss, severe infection, heart attack, or severe allergic reaction is a medical emergency and must be treated in the hospital. Low blood pressure due to other reasons can often be treated at home with lifestyle changes and prescription medicine. Consult your healthcare provider for more information and medical advice. 

When should I go to the ER for low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure can become an emergency. If you have any of the following symptoms, call 911 and go to the emergency room.

  • Nausea 
  • Cold, clammy, pale skin
  • Rapid breathing
  • Heart palpitations
  • Feeling very thirsty
  • Dehydration
  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Fainting
  • Headache 
  • Back or neck pain
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Vision changes
  • Fatigue 
  • Depression

You should also go to the emergency room if you have chest pain, faint, fall and hit your head, or have other injuries from fainting.